Maintaining that the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF are two sides of the same coin, BJP president J.P. Nadda said that his party will oppose both of them equally in Kerala. He is in the state to launch the NDA’s campaign for upcoming Assembly elections in the state
“Both the LDF and the UDF are fooling the people of Kerala. Both are corrupt to the core and are a shame to the state,'' Nadda said. “Both are number one enemies of the state,'' he said when asked whom he considers as the major opponent.
“Both parties smack of political opportunism. They pretend to oppose each other in Kerala and join hands in Bengal to oppose the BJP. They have no ideology or principle,'' he said.
Exuding confidence that the BJP is making a solid surge in Kerala, the only state where the party is yet to make a significant presence, Nadda said that the people of Kerala have become more receptive to the BJP off late. “They have realised that the BJP cares for Kerala and they are looking for an alternative in the party. This will be reflected in the coming elections,'' Nadda said.
Nadda attacked the ruling front and the opposition UDF in scathing terms. "The LDF and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have been a shame to the people of Kerala with they neck-deep in corruption allegations. On the other hand, the Congress leadres like Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala are embroiled in sex scandals and corruption. People of Kerala are desperately looking for a third option and the BJP is able to fill that void,'' he said.
When asked about the BJP's position on Sabarimala issue, Nadda said that it remains with the believers. He ridiculed the Congress' promise to bring in legislation to ban young women from entering the shrine and said that Congress is trying to fool the people. “Why Rahul Gandhi has not opened his mouth on the subject after offering support to the entry of women? Congress thinks people are fools,'' he said. He added that the Congress is bringing up the issue now only for the sake of votes.
He also hit out at the state government for its “mismanagement”' of COVID-19 pandemic. “It is a shame that Kerala accounts for nearly half of the Covid cases in the country,'' he said.
When asked about the farmers' struggle, Nadda said that the Modi government had been very flexible and open on the matter and slammed the agitators for their obstinence.
Nadda also said that the BJP is very serious about the Citizenship Amendment Act and ruled out rumours that it is going slow on the matter because of the Assam and West Bengal elections. “It is only because of Covid that it got delayed. Works for framing rules for CAA will be finished in a few months time,'' he said.